Implemented in 1998 the Hessen-Wisconsin Academic Partnership was the first of three state-to-state academic programs followed by the Hessen-Massachusetts and the Hessen-Queensland Partnerships in 2004.

The objective of all three state-to-state programs is to support student mobility as well as to implement and foster collaboration between researchers of institutions of higher education in Hessen and the partner state. The exchanges seek to create an environment of international knowledge, cultural competencies and linguistic skills for the future.

The three partnerships are supported by the Hessen State Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and the Arts, as well as by the University Systems of Wisconsin and Massachusetts, and the Universities of Queensland.

Exchange opportunities include short-term, semester and academic year programs. By now, close to 1,500 students have chosen the Hessen Academic Partnerships and realized their study abroad experience. Many of them are still actively participating in alumni events or are members of the Alumni Facebook Groups.

Besides student exchanges, Hessen invites faculty members from the partner regions tofurther increase student participation and to support departmental and research relationships to make maximum benefit of the partnership.

It is one of the major goals of the Hessen Academic Partnerships to initiate bilateral cooperation among the participating universities and to provide students the opportunity to come one step closer to a global citizen.